Being free means having the right and freedom to think and believe the things you do, and live the life you choose.

That means freedom of religion. In theory, you can believe and practice any religion of your choosing. Whether you’re Christian, Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Sikhs, or anything, you can practice you beliefs without consequence, so long as you aren’t harming another individual.

With that kind of freedom comes respect and acceptance. This is not a Christian nation. Nor is it Muslim, Jewish, or any one religion. The term melting pot used to be thrown around a lot for a reason. BECAUSE IT’S TRUE.

We are a nation of multiple faiths, colors, genders, and cultures. To run a country based on one religion, or one race, or one gender, or one culture is wrong, and it will never work. When you choose to base laws off one religious belief, or exclude members of society based on any of those things, that is discriminatory.

Keep your religion out of our public schools. There are multiple faiths represented in classrooms across the country, and they do not all believe in the same thing. Faith is not science. It is faith: complete trust or confidence in someone or something; strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof (Oxford Dictionary Online).

Teach your children about your god, and how the world was created according to your religious doctrines at home, in church, or any other religious place of worship you so choose. You have that right! However, it is disrespectful to push it upon other people who do not share your faith, and make it the way of the land. That’s not going to fly.

While we’re at it, this is also not a male nation. Nor is it a white nation. Women make up 50.8% of this country. Blacks make up 13.1%, Hispanics are 16.9%, and Asians are 5.1% (USA Quickfacts, US Census). While whites may be a majority, that does not mean they can disregard the lives and freedoms of others. Women are the majority (barely), but we are still being governed over our bodies, and still earning less than our male coworkers.

When you rule based on one race, gender or culture, dissension occurs. That is not freedom. That is an exclusionary culture that has no place in a modern, civilized society.